Open-Source Software: Microsoft's Biggest Threat

There's no doubt about it, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is a behemoth. It has permeated the computer industry and has an enormous amount of clout. So, what's to rain on Microsoft's parade?

Actually, a threat is emerging that can do considerable damage to this powerful software company. The threat is free software.

This article will look at this threat to Microsoft's business and what responses the company should be making to this threat. An enterprising software genius named Linus Torvalds founded a company called Linux. Let me quote you the first sentence of Linux's Web site: "Linux is a free Unix-type operating system originally created by Linus Torvalds with the assistance of developers around the world." The operative word in that sentence is "free."